CLE 8, MIN 1: Salazar Dominates, Cleveland Hits 5 HRs

Gee or Enns. Whichever isn't up for the starter job, although I would bring upSlegers or Melville in the meantime. 

Boshers could be gone. Pressly is on thin ice, but I still think he has potential.

Thank goodness Santiago is not coming back soon, although I was hoping he would pitch a game or two, be put on waivers, and grabbed.

Boshers blew the game last night, maybe Perkins' farewell parade can come at his expense.

This game was an eye opener. Reminds one of when the Twins played Houston and the LA Dodgers - the Twins are not in the Indians' class and unfortunately it looked like both teams knew it last night.

Amazing play by Sano!  That was seriously Machado-esque, I cannot say enough about this kid's play at 3b this year. Buxton's gem and early RBI, I think we can expect a torrid September from him once again.

I just want to stick a fork in this team. I'm tired of the whole, "we're within shouting distance so we have a chance" bit.

Every time it starts to look like they may actually have a chance, and play a rap contender, they lay a big embarrassing egg, and get slammed back into obscurity with extreme prejudice.

If they can salvage a series win, you never know. But, I just don't see that happening. They'll be lucky to not get swept off the earth by 5+ runs a game against the Indians. They're just in another galaxy.

I have a hard time saying Boshers blew the game. Not to say he did his job, but getting only 3 hits blew this game.

The runs he allowed, more accurately the runs Molitor allowed him to allow, certainly made a comeback far less likely. But, I agree, you aren't going to win many games scoring one run.

Did Molitor actually give Boshers permission to give up hits and runs? I guess I missed that. I understand that you might not like Molitor as a manager but you can't say "Molitor allowed him to allow". Just the grammar alone is enough to make me cringe.

Boshers has a career OPS against, 200 points higher vs RHH than LHH... and a HR rate 6x higher.

Leaving him in against a RHH there, with a rested pen, was a bad call, IMO.

Boshers has a career OPS against, 200 points higher vs RHH than LHH... and a HR rate 6x higher.
Leaving him in against a RHH there, with a rested pen, was a bad call, IMO.

That's Molitor. He doesn't memorize matchups as he is supposed to, and this is one of the easiest ones to memorize.

The preseason analysts who pointed out the amount of mediocre teams that a lucky or improved team can beat up on was right, the discrepancy is really apparent We are 5 - 19 versus the Red Sox, Indians, and Astros.  http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/grid and 5 - 22 when we add in the dodgers which means we are 54 - 36 versus the rest.  Maybe that makes us a wild card team, but no matter, it is definitely a not ready for prime time team - just a fun one. 

2-5 against the Red Sox,  5-9 against Cleveland, 1-5 against the Astros makes a total of 8-19 against those teams.    I don't like the odds of playing them in a playoff series but I like the odds a lot better than not making the playoffs.   A good game by Berrios and a good game by Santana or Mejia is all it takes to have a chance.   If we happen to face Cleveland they would have home field advantage where we are 5-1.

The preseason analysts who pointed out the amount of mediocre teams that a lucky or improved team can beat up on was right, the discrepancy is really apparent We are 5 - 19 versus the Red Sox, Indians, and Astros.  http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/grid and 5 - 22 when we add in the dodgers which means we are 54 - 36 versus the rest.  Maybe that makes us a wild card team, but no matter, it is definitely a not ready for prime time team - just a fun one. 

87 Twins had 85 wins vs Tigers 98 wins and Blue Jays 96 wins and were   7-17 against them during the season.    Didn't seem to bother them much.   Of course there is anecdotal evidence the other way as well and the better team usually wins but the underdog winning is more fun.    In other words, worse odds but better payoff.

I was at the game and called Jackson's HR. Boshers should have been yanked after he walked the lefty he was brought in to face.

87 Twins had 85 wins vs Tigers 98 wins and Blue Jays 96 wins and were   7-17 against them during the season.    Didn't seem to bother them much.   Of course there is anecdotal evidence the other way as well and the better team usually wins but the underdog winning is more fun.    In other words, worse odds but better payoff.

You are comparing the 1987 Twins and their one playoff series win (to get to the World Series), to what MLB teams have to do 30 years later?  A WC team has to win 3 series just to get to the World Series.  Just not the same and the odds of a team, barely .500 or better beating teams like that goes down every series they play.

IMO

You are comparing the 1987 Twins and their one playoff series win (to get to the World Series), to what MLB teams have to do 30 years later?  A WC team has to win 3 series just to get to the World Series.  Just not the same and the odds of a team, barely .500 or better beating teams like that goes down every series they play.

 

IMO

There have already been several bottom seeded teams who have won the WS. MLB has not been like the NFL where it took years for the wild card teams to be relevant in the playoffs.

There have already been several bottom seeded teams who have won the WS. MLB has not been like the NFL where it took years for the wild card teams to be relevant in the playoffs.

Being a bottom seed is since the 2nd wild card format?  With 85 wins or less?  I'd love to know who?